A MA SONIA—ANANA S. 



pots chop or break up the loam and peat into large lumps, a fine, close compost not 

 suiting such coarse- rooted plants as alocasias. The choicer species should be raised 

 rather high in the pots, and have the surface of the soil heavily covered, in the form 

 of a mound, with sphagnum moss, this promoting the formation of new roots from 

 the rhizomes. Afford heavy drainage, as abundance of water must be applied during 

 the growing season, with liquid manure occasionally. Shade from bright sun during 

 the spring and summer. A winter temperature of 60° to 65°, increasing to 75° and 

 85° in the summer, suits alocasias. 



amasonia punicea — This beautiful flowering shrub was introduced from British 

 Guinea, and bids fair to become extremely popular. The introducers, Messrs. Veitch 

 & Sons, Chelsea, correctly describe this sterling novelty as follows: — "The inflorescence 

 is very brilliant, being particularly striking from having a series of the richest 

 vermilion-crimson Poinsettia-like spreading bracts, arranged in pairs along the entire 

 length of the racemes, which are a foot long ; these bracts, the lowermost of which are 

 4 inches long, are very persistent, remaining in perfection nearly two months. From 

 the base of each bract are produced pendulous tubular flowers in twos and threes, of a 

 creamy white colour, offering a pleasing contrast to the rich colouring of the other 

 parts of the inflorescence." Propagation is effected by cuttings of young flowerless 

 shoots, not too soft, inserted in light sandy soil, and the pots plunged in damp bottom 

 heat, under a handlight or glazed case in a warm house, shading as may be needed to 

 keep the leaves fresh till roots are emitted, then admitting air gradually prior to 

 potting singly. Before the plants are root-bound they are transferred to 5 or 6 -inch 

 pots, in which they may flower, growing them in a light position, in ordinary stove 

 temperature. They succeed under the same cultural treatment as Poinsettias. We are 

 indebted to the introducers of this distinct plant for the characteristic illustration, 

 Fig. 128, next page. 



ananas or ananassa. — A. sativa is the botanical name of the Pine Apple, and 

 it is the variegated form, A. sativa yariegata, that is grown in plant stoves for the 

 beauty of its foliage. It is propagated from suckers which are produced by old plants, 

 and also from neat little offsets and crowns produced with the fruit. These, after being 

 detached, should be laid on a shelf for two or three days to dry, before inserting them 

 singly in small pots. Plunge the pots in a brisk hot bed, and be very careful not to 

 over-water before many roots are formed. Bottom heat is desirable, but not indis- 

 pensable, when the plants are given a shift, as it also is when older plants are partially 



